Brick NY honors mayoral candidate, Trump, and more

Successful event includes award for Bricklayer's president

More than 300 members of the design and construction community gathered to honor William C. Thompson, Jr., chairman, Battery Park City Authority, Bricklayers Local 1 President Jeremiah Sullivan, Jr.; the Trump Organization; and several architects, masons contractors, and builders at the Brick NY 2011 Awards Dinner.

Sponsored by members of the Brick Industry Association's New York/New Jersey Brick Distributor Council and the Associated Brick Mason Contractors of Greater New York, the biennial awards honor individuals and organizations who have contributed to the vitality and success of brick masonry construction in the New York area. The dinner was held on October 20 at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City.

William C. Thompson, Jr., chairman of the Battery Park City Authority, called brick "an aesthetic bridge" between Battery Park City and old New York. "The design guidelines and master plan of Battery Park City reflect the central role that brick has played in the architectural continuity of our city. Battery Park City boasts an abundance of brick buildings because it was built to evoke the look and feel of classic New York neighborhoods."

Accepting the award for Trump was Executive Vice President Andrew Weiss, who has managed the design and construction of major development and construction projects for the company since 1981. Mr. Weiss explained that brick is featured on so many Trump buildings because of its durability. Jeremiah Sullivan, Jr., the President of Bricklayers Local Union No. 1, which is the bricklayer union for jurisdiction in New York City, was this year's labor honoree. Mr. Sullivan discussed the promotion of brick construction in the City of New York and how Bricklayers Local Union No. 1 has worked diligently together with unionized construction companies in New York City to effectively build brick structures with unionized employees in a safe and efficient fashion. He also discussed how other masons and bricklayers are second and third generations working in this industry and how so many of these workers are following in the footsteps of their fathers to keep the unionized construction industry in New York City vibrant.

Saverio Morelli, President of Morelli Masons, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. He worked as a mason contractor for 58 years. Brick NY also honored New York area architects and masons.

Recently completed projects that received awards include two New York City School Construction Authority projects, Beach Channel High School in Rockaway Park and Public School 184 in Flushing, NY. Another famous brick structure, Citi Field in Queens, home of the NY Mets, also received an award. The design and construction teams responsible for A Condominiums, Jersey City, NJ; St. John's University's new D'Angelo Center in Queens; Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola; and a private residence on Staten Island are also award winners.

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.